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Good Earth Natural Foods
120 NW 3rd Avenue
Austin, MN
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A long-range commitment is in place at Good
Earth Natural Foods to reduce all energy consumption to as close
to zero as possible in a building containing both commercial and
apartment spaces. Eight Evergreen solar panels with a total of 880
watts cover 5% of the building's electrical use. The panels were
fixed-mounted on the 100% southern exposure of the building's front
to create a display for the community. The larger-than-needed Sunny
Boy 1800-watt inverter was purchased to take a second set of panels
at a later date. An electric meter was provided by Austin Utilities
for display in the storefront's window to demonstrate the panels'
ability to generate electricity so that passers-by can have a tangible
feel for the project.
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8 Evergreen solar electric
panels, totalling 880 watts |
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1,800-watt Sunny Boy inverter |
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Electric meter for public display |
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Compact fluorescent light bulbs in apartments |
Take I-35E south to Albert Lea. Exit at I-90
and follow I-90 to Austin. Take the 4th Street NW exit and turn
right at 4th Street. Turn left at 3rd Avenue. The building is at
3rd and Main Street.
